Moguls escape in rematch to reach Class A Div. I final

WICHITA FALLS -- After beating Windthorst by 30 in district play, many were figuring Munday would have an easy time in Saturday's Region II-A final.

Someone forgot to tell the Trojans.

The No. 4 Moguls took advantage of three Windthorst fumbles -- one with 1:06 left in the game -- to escape Memorial Stadium with a 17-16 win and end the Trojans' improbable run through the playoffs.

Munday improves to 13-0 and will face Sundown -- a 50-21 winner over Nazareth -- in the state semifinals 2 p.m. Saturday in Sweetwater. The Trojans end the season with a record of 6-7.

The first fumble the Trojans lost set up a 21-yard touchdown run by Munday quarterback Steven Urbanczyk.

The second shifted momentum after the Trojans had taken a 16-14 lead on a safety.

The final one ended any Windthorst comeback hopes, allowing the Moguls to run out the clock for the win.

Munday coach Patrick Corcoran thought it was only fitting that his defense came through in the clutch.

&quot;The defense was on the field and they took care of us,&quot; a relieved Corcoran said. &quot;They've been creating turnovers all year and they did it again for us. Even though they (Windthorst) were going into the wind, (Brian) Hoff has a great leg and they were getting close to his range. So that was huge.

&quot;After we fumbled it, I didn't know if we'd see the ball again. It took an outstanding effort to win that football game.&quot;

With the Moguls up 17-16, Windthorst's Kelly Hoegger recovered a fumble at the Munday 40 with 1:33 left in the game. He then picked up 15 yards on a keeper to get the Trojans in scoring position. But an ill-advised pitch on the next play was recovered by Caleb Collier, and the Moguls were ready to move on.

&quot;We said it would come down to a turnover battle,&quot; Windthorst coach Bill Green said. &quot;I thought we had a chance to win it when we got that last one (fumble). Then when we got it close, I thought we had it because we've got a great field goal kicker. It was just not meant to be.&quot;

The Moguls dominated the stats with 311 yards of offense and 15 first downs to just 86 yards and four for the Trojans. Two lost fumbles and two blocked kicks helped make it close.

Munday opened the scoring with a 99-yard drive midway through the opening quarter.

Backed up to the 1, Urbanczyk got the Moguls out of trouble with a 40-yard pass on the first play. He finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Key.

The Trojans would answer with a 66-yard run up the middle by Charles Wolf to tie the game.

Windthorst tried the same play the next time it had the ball, but the Moguls forced a fumble and Rob Dillard scooped it up at the 21.

Urbanczyk's touchdown run came on the next play and the Moguls held a 14-7 halftime lead.

The Trojans were able to take advantage of a Munday miscue to tie the game in the third.

Anason Jones fumbled the ball trying to make an over-the-shoulder catch on a Hoegger punt, recovered the ball and then fumbled it again. Rusty Schroeder picked up the loose ball at the 12 and raced into the end zone for the score.

Things continued going the Trojans' way as they blocked a punt. They were unable to move the ball, but Hoegger's punt was downed at the 3.

B.J. Dockins, who rushed for 105 yards, avoided a safety on the first play by stretching the ball back onto the field of play. But the Moguls couldn't get much farther and Pate Stewart had a second-straight punt blocked -- this one rolling out of the back of the end zone for a safety to put the Trojans up 16-14.

Windthorst had the ball near midfield after the free kick, but a fumbled pitch on the first play was recovered by Key, and momentum shifted back to the Moguls.

&quot;I thought that was critical because we got the ball on the 50 and then couldn't take advantage of it,&quot; Green said. &quot;We were playing good defense and taking advantage of the short field. But when you can't make first downs, you can't win. Munday is an extremely good defensive team.&quot;

Dockins ripped off 35 yards on first down to get the Moguls close, and three plays later Jones booted a 22-yard field goal to give Munday the 17-16 lead heading into the final period.

Neither team was able to mount any real scoring threat in the fourth quarter until the Trojans got the ball back on Hoegger's fumble recovery with 1:33 remaining.

&quot;It was no surprise,&quot; Corcoran said of his team's one-point win. &quot;They're an outstanding football team. I knew it wouldn't be like last time. Coach Green and his staff do a great job getting them prepared and they really played with a lot of heart. They're not real flashy, but they know how to win.

&quot;Our kids battled. That's what it takes to keep going and we're still moving on. It's good to win a football game like that. They're a bunch of strong-willed kids; full of heart and full of character. They didn't want their season to end tonight.&quot;